title: Anti-obesity and hypolipidaemic effects of Nelumbo nucifera seed ethanol extract in human pre-adipocytes and rats fed a high-fat diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted this investigation in order to examine the anti-obesity and hypolipidaemic effects of Nelumbo nucifera seed ethanol extract (NSEE) in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  To study the anti-obesity effect of NSEE in vitro and in vivo, human pre-adipocytes were treated with NSEE, and male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with a normal diet and a high-fat diet with or without NSEE, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro treatment with NSEE resulted in inhibition of lipid accumulation and decreased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and leptin in cultured human adipocytes, indicating that it inhibited the differentiation of pre-adipocytes into adipocytes. Administration of NSEE resulted in significantly reduced body weight gain and adipose tissue weights in rats. Serum triglyceride and leptin level of the high-fat diet + NSEE group was significantly lower, compared to the high-fat group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate an inhibitory effect of NSEE on adipogenesis. In addition, NSEE had a beneficial effect, reducing adipose tissue weights, ameliorating blood lipid profile, and modulating serum leptin level in rats fed a high-fat diet. Therefore, we suggest that lotus seed has a potential to be developed as an effective agent against obesity-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Nam-gu, Incheon, 402-751, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Yun Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Ja
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000097:blood; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D031653:Nelumbo; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012639:Seeds; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D020738:Leptin; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; C495694:Slc2a4 protein, rat; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Nelumbo nucifera seed; anti-obesity; high-fat diet; human pre-adipocyte; hypolipidaemic